Like most Australian children, Richard Eliason learnt to swim at a young age in order to keep his head above the water. But what began as a basic safety precaution turned into a life-long love affair with the water.

Richard has come a long way from his early days in the pool and burst on to the international swimming circuit, with a 200m breaststroke silver medal at the 2005 INAS-FID Global Games.

Two years later, he followed up with two gold, four silver and one bronze medal at the 2007 Global Games and in 2009, he helped Australia win the overall medal tally by contributing two gold, two silver and three bronze medals to the board.

Richard excelled at the 2010 World Championships, winning a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke to prove himself a world class performer. In the lead up to the 2012 Games, he suffered a fractured shoulder which hampered his preparations. Despite this, Richard won silver in the 100m breaststroke at the 2011 Para Pan Pacs and bronze in the 50m breaststroke at the 2011 National Titles. At his first Paralympics in London, the Canberra native finished fifth in the 100m breaststroke.

When he’s not swimming, Richard enjoys riding his motorbike and watching the Moto GP as well as supporting the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL and listening to his favourite band, Blink 182.

He draws inspiration from Australian swimmer Brenton Rickard, who until London, held the able-bodied world record for Richard’s pet event, the 100m breaststroke.